Bionutrient Food Association (BFA), founder of the Real Food Campaign (RFC), announced recently the expansion of its nutrient density in food research study, which is funded by a grant from Bank of America.
Through a partnership with Pipeline Foods, the RFC is adding grains to its survey of nutrition in the food supply. The research will evaluate the connection between the health of the soil in which crops are grown and the resulting levels of nutritional quality, or nutrient density, in the final products at harvest. In addition, the study will examine the connection of carbon sequestration in the soil from the atmosphere.
Dan Kittredge, Executive Director, BFA said, “The Real Food Campaign is dedicated to shifting the market to recognise high quality food and to do it in a way that educates and serves growers and consumers. We understand there is a direct relationship between the manner in which crops are grown and the health-giving attributes they provide when consumed. We are working to define nutrient density empirically in order to drive this shift.”
Six crops
Over the past four years, the RFC lab has conducted research on the nutrient density of six horticulture crops: carrot, spinach, lettuce, tomato, kale and grapes. This new study will expand that research by comparing organic and conventional grain production, specifically oats and wheat. Pipeline Foods’ role in the project is to identify, recruit and onboard farmers in its network, and provide support to both them and BFA as the work in the field and lab is being done.
“The topics of soil health and the nutritional quality of food are incredibly important to the work we’re doing to develop sustainable supply chains for organic grain crops,” said Erin Heitkamp, Pipeline Foods’ Senior Vice President of Impact.
He added, “Supporting groundbreaking work like this is consistent with our company’s core value of collaboration; the more we can work with organisations to understand the impacts of organic farming, the more information and resources we can bring back to our grower partners to help them better their practices. We are thrilled to have found such high calibre partners in the team at the BFA and Bank of America.”
Rich Brown, Environmental Program Director, Bank of America said, “Working with these two organisations on such important research is a critical step toward more sustainable agriculture and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Exploring solutions that can improve food quality and focus on the role soil can play in storing carbon, supports our focus on sustainable agriculture and farming practices.”
The study will be conducted during the 2020 fall harvest season, with samples being analysed throughout fall and winter. BFA plans to release preliminary study results in the first quarter of 2021.
The process
The process includes several steps. First, is to document environmental and management conditions on the farm site, which includes soil type, fertility program, varietal and weather data, tillage and cover crop practices. Next, farmers will submit samples of the grain and the soil for assessment. In the lab, the Real Food Campaign team assesses soil organic matter, biological activity, and mineral levels. The final step is to assess the grain for a suite of different elements and compounds. This metadata process allows us to identify correlations between farm management practices, soil health results and crop nutrient density effects.
Established in 2010 with a mission to increase quality in the food supply, BFA is the preeminent organisation working globally to bring forward the importance of focusing on Nutrient Density. Bringing forward empirical definitions of nutrient density and through developing a Bionutrient Meter for consumers, BFA is poised for a much larger role in the food system.
Pipeline Foods is the first U.S.-based supply chain solutions company focused exclusively on non-GMO, organic, and regenerative food and feed. Its dedicated team brings transparent, sustainable supply chain solutions to connect the dots for its farming partners and end users of organic grains and ingredients.
